All graduate students in the Master of Arts in History program must meet the enrollment and academic progress requirements established by the Graduate School of the University of Georgia. These include the following: Minimum Enrollment Students must register for a minimum of three (3) graduate credit hours during any semester in which they use University of Georgia facilities or seek feedback, advising, or instruction from faculty or staff. This includes semesters in which students are working on a thesis, completing research, or defending their thesis. Residence The minimum residence requirement is two semesters which do not have to be consecutive. Continuous Enrollment Policy Graduate students must maintain continuous enrollment from the time of initial matriculation through completion of the degree. Continuous enrollment is defined as registering for at least three (3) graduate credit hours in at least two semesters per academic year (Fall, Spring, Summer). Students must maintain continuous enrollment until the completion of their degree, or their status as a degree-seeking student will be terminated by the graduate school. In that case, if they wish to continue in the program they will need to reapply. Enrollment During Final Semester All students must be enrolled in at least three (3) graduate credit hours during the semester in which they complete degree requirements, including the thesis defense and submission of final documents to the Graduate School. Time Limit for Completion Students must complete all requirements for the Master of Arts degree—including coursework, research skills requirement, thesis proposal, thesis, and defense—within six (6) years of matriculation. The six-year limit begins with the semester the student matriculated into the program and ends with the last semester before the beginning of the sixth year. Please note that this is a graduate school requirement and the department cannot grant extensions. Leave of Absence Students who experience significant personal, medical, financial, or family-related challenges may request a leave of absence (LOA) that will exempt them temporarily from the continuous enrollment policy. A formal leave must be approved by both the Director of Graduate Studies and the Dean of the Graduate School. A leave of absence will be granted only for good cause such as serious medical and health-related issues; major financial and employment issues; pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, elder care, and other significant family issues; and other major personal circumstances that interfere with the ability to undertake graduate study. An approved leave does not stop the six-year time clock except in cases involving pregnancy, childbirth, or adoption. In all other circumstances, time on leave counts towards any University, Graduate School, or program time limits pertaining to the degree being sought. Students are responsible for consulting the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate School website for procedures and eligibility requirements. The Leave of Absence form and instructions are available on the Graduate School Forms web page https://grad.uga.edu/current-students/forms/. Degree Time Limit Extensions Students who are unable to complete degree requirements within the six-year time limit may submit a request for an extension of time to the Dean of the Graduate School. An extension of time may be granted only for circumstances beyond the control of the student. A petition of this type must include:1) A written explanation of the reasons for the delay;2) A specific timeline for completion of all remaining requirements;3) A letter from the student’s major professor to the Dean stating approval or disapproval of the petition;5) A letter from the Department Head and Director of Graduate Studies indicating their concurrence or lack of concurrence.
